Malmö's location makes it possible to do wonderful daytrips in the south Swedish landscapes. The flat land around Malmö is one of the best agricultural parts of Europe and the Öresound has always been an important place to collect customs. Historically this south Swedish part has been attractive to Kings, Lords and Noblemen as we still can see in the many castles in the south Swedish landscape. In a 10 km radii around Malmö there are at least 26 castles, many of which are now days open for visitors as museums, restaurants and hotels or as private homes with open parks. The castles show us the three most important parts in the Skåne history; the Middle Ages and the strong connection to the church and the archbishops in Lund. The start of a new era as a Swedish part after the Swedish-Danish wars and the Piece in Roskilde 1658 and the start of the industrial era in the end of the 19th century. The strong connection to Denmark can still be seen in the architecture in the castles, churches and old buildings around in Skåne.
We suggest three different daytrips - all with a historical leading theme.
In the steps of the Vikings
Take a daytrip in the tracks of the Vikings. Travel on old culture ways through the beautiful old farming landscape south of Malmö on your way to Höllviken. One the way you will pass through small old villages with beautiful blend white churches, and fields with ancients gravehills.
Half an hour later you will reach: Foteviken Museum. This in Europe's only reconstructed Viking and early medieval town. There are 22 buildings within the fortified embankment, with additional structures under construction continuously. Meet the inhabitants and the enchantment of a thousand year old history and get to know their handicraft and daily life of the Vikings. After a guided tour through the Viking reserve the bus will take you further to Skanör, a picturesque old village were the fish markets took part during the middleages. In the small villages you can see as an example the ruins from a medieval fortress, a church from the 13th century and the city hall from the 18th century. You will eat our lunch at Skanör Gästgifvaregård, a classic traditional south Swedish restaurant with a menu influence from French cuisine but a taste of Skåne and local ingredients.
Or as an alternative Skanörs smoke-house, a landmark with its two white chimneys. At this smoke-house you can eat smoked fish as the old Vikings but with modern gourmet flair.
To the dinner you have the possibility to try Swedish snaps and beer and maybe learn a Swedish "snaps song". After the meal you will visit Sweden Amber museum situated directly buy the 500m long old rampart from 950-1135 A.C. Inside the museum you will get to know the history of amber "the gold of the Vikings", visit the workshop were they are making the jewellery and you have the possibility to buy jewellery in the amber shop. After the museum the bus takes you back to Malmö.
The Castle tour
Skåne is famous for its many castles, in the surrounding of Malmö you can find as many as 26 castles built during three important periods in the history of Skåne. The middle ages and the establishment of the church. The 17th century the wars between Denmark and Sweden when Skåne became Swedish. And the 19th century when the industrial era started and the manors and castles became production bases for the food industry in the landscape.
By following the coast north from Malmö you will pass Alnarp manor and university and Borgeby castle and heading for Trollenäs castle. The castle dates back to 1386 and has since then belonged to only two noble families. The castle was renovated in the 18th century and rebuilt in a neorenaissance style in the 19th century. During the guided tour through the castle you will get to know the different personalities that have lived on the castle as well as the history of the building. Then the bus will take us to Bosjökloster. The building was founded 1080 as a Benedictine convent. After the reformation it was changed into a lord manor. To the manor belongs the old abbey church from 1050 in Romanesque style and a romantic park with a beautiful terraced garden lending to the great Lake Ringsjön.
After the lunch you will enjoy a guided tour in the manor. Ca 2 hours later the bus take you on a scenic tour to your next stop, Övedskloster, one of the most beautiful private castles in Skåne. On our way you will pass trough a landscape with small villages, white limed churches from the middle-ages and private castles. Övedskloster with is beautiful tree lined avenues is a rococo castle with a magnificent park. The lady of the manor welcomes you with coffee and cake followed by a guided tour through the wonderful castle park.
Culture landscape in the steps of the people
The landscape in Skåne is characterized by its old agricultural traditions. By following the old historical ways from Malmö to Dalby you will experience the flatland culture with small church villages and see farms lying out in the fields a sign for the agricultural reform in the 18th century.
In Dalby, a wonderful small villages, is your first stop and you will you visit the 11th century church, one of the best preserved Romanesque churches in Sweden with a state demesne next to it. Half an hour later you will reach the open-air museum Östarp, one of the oldest outdoor museums in Sweden, started 1924. Surrounded of an old agriculture landscape are the farms spread in a lovely longish valley. The museum shows the living culture heritage, with an old native breed of livestock. During the tour you will visit the farm "Gamlegård" from 1812 that represent the peasant culture of Skåne with a complete timber framed farmstead built around a courtyard with a beautiful old garden and the farm "Alrik Jönssons gård" from 1907 represents the 20th century peasant culture.
After the tour you will be served Scanian specialities in a traditional Scanian inn. After a delicate lunch the tour heads for a visit at a very interesting project. Since 1979 Sweden has a Stork protection. The stork is known in Sweden as the bird which brings luck and babies. Once a very common bird but nowadays you are lucky if you can see a stork. The stork protection tries to change it and has the function as the birds breeding place and love nest. The goal is to breed up a new strain of Storks.
At the farm one of the project members will show you around and give an introduction to the project. After the guided tour the bus is heading back to Malmö.
Along the coast line to the southernmost point of Scandinavia.
The tour begins in Malmö and passes the viewpoint for the Öresund bridge on the way out from the city. We are following the coast on historical roads through a beautiful old farming landscape with small church villages with white churches and many ancients graves. When you have passed the Falsterbo channel, you will soon reach the first stop; the picturesque village Skanör.
The village origin has been traced to the early 12th century. The greatness of the village was during the medieval time when the herring market took part every year from August until October. During three intense months the village was visited by 30 000 people. During your guided tour through the village you will probably meet "Gåsapågen and Gåsatösen" a boy and a girl in traditional costumes herding geese's through the central parts of Skanör, an old village tradition. You will also experience the ruins of an early medieval fortress, Skanör´s church Christened to Saint Olof and built in 1225, and many other beautiful buildings.
After the tour you will dine in Skanörs Gästgifvaregård, a classic traditional south Swedish restaurant with a menu influenced by the French cuisine but with a taste of Skåne and local ingredients. After the meal you can visit Sweden Amber museum in Kämpinge situated directly by the old rampart from 950-1135 A.C 500 meter long. Inside the museum you will get to know the history of amber, visit the workshop were they are making the jewellery and the amber shop.
After the museum you will follow the south coast of Skåne with unspoiled, idyllic fishing villages with white washed houses and black tarred roofs to Smygehamn, and Smykehuk the southern point of Scandinavia, were Sweden begins or ends. The harbour in Smygehuk was an import shipping place in the 19th century stands from that time. At Smyghuk you will drink a cup of coffee. On your way back to Malmö you will be passing by Aspö old vicarage and Jordeberga manor and Svaneholm castle.
